European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe to File Antitrust Complaint Against FIFA

In a significant escalation of their ongoing dispute with FIFA, the European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe announced on Tuesday their intention to file a complaint with EU antitrust regulators over the international match calendar, a move that intensifies a confrontation with world football’s governing body over scheduling issues that have sparked widespread controversy.

The upcoming complaint to the European Commission, the EU’s competition enforcer, follows recent legal action by English, French and Italian unions against FIFA in the Brussels Commercial Court. The unions argue that the current fixture list is overloaded and poses serious risks to both the stability of domestic leagues and the health of players.

The European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe have expressed concerns that the international fixture calendar has reached a saturation point that makes it unsustainable, saying FIFA’s scheduling decisions favour its own competitions and commercial interests at the expense of its wider responsibilities as a governing body.

A person with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed that the complaint will be formally filed in the coming weeks.

Related: Biden administration backs antitrust lawsuit against FIFA

However, FIFA maintains that the existing calendar was unanimously approved by the FIFA Council following a comprehensive consultation that included input from FIFPRO and various league bodies. A FIFA spokesperson defended the calendar, stating that “the FIFA calendar is the only instrument to ensure that international football can continue to survive, coexist and thrive alongside domestic and continental club football”.

In a strongly worded statement, FIFA accused some European leagues of acting in commercial self-interest and hypocrisy. “Some leagues in Europe – themselves competition organisers and regulators – act in commercial self-interest, hypocrisy and without regard for anyone else in the world. These leagues clearly prefer a calendar filled with friendly matches and summer tours, often involving extensive travel around the world.”

Source: Sport Star